The Olympic regatta in Enoshima begins on Sunday: The Olympic tightrope walk

49erFX helmswoman Tina Lutz vented her frustration on social media on Saturday night. On her Facebook page, the 30-year-old from the Chiemsee Yacht Club in Japan vented her disappointment at missing out on the opening ceremony. For the European champion, the ban on taking part in the march of nations into the stadium in Tokyo was a long-cherished personal dream come true. She wrote: "This is one of the saddest moments in my sporting career: fighting for twelve years to be allowed to go to the Olympic Games and then the sports director bans me from taking part in the opening ceremony. It was this magical moment that I always gave my all for and that motivated me. Having to watch the sailors from other nations being allowed to march in is heartbreaking."

Tina Lutz's reaction showed above all the extent of the individual disappointment of a competitive athlete. But it also underlines how tense the situation is at the Olympic Games, among the athletes, their coaches and the organisers, how thin the line is between frustration and pleasure, how difficult it is to weigh things up. An official statement from the German Sailing Team led by DSV Sports Director Nadine Stegenwalner explained even before the ceremonial Tokyo opening why no member of the German sailing team should be travelling to the opening ceremony: "The Olympic Games are opening today. The German sailors will watch the opening ceremony from the Olympic Sailing Village. A Covid-19 infection or identification as a 'close contact' of an infected person can mean the end of the Games for athletes. We regret not being able to experience this special Olympic moment live in Tokyo. But the health of the team is the highest good, and the competitions come first."

The German sailors were in good company for their general decision: well-known sailing nations such as Italy also followed the request of the Olympic organisers and stayed away from the comparatively small opening ceremony without a large audience, celebrating in official team clothing in the sailors' Olympic village. Nevertheless, twelve sailors from nine countries were on duty as flag bearers for their teams. They were accompanied by several other team mates and coaches from these and other teams. The simple opening ceremony without pompous excesses remained a balancing act in the Olympic heartland of the hosts, as the number of people infected with coronavirus is rising in Tokyo.

When the Olympic dream bursts...

Concerns about infection and the consequences therefore remain omnipresent at the Olympic Games in Japan. For this reason, the Japanese decided to hold the games without spectators. For the same reason, there are unprecedented restrictions in place to protect Japan's population and all those involved, but they can never be 100 per cent effective at a major event. On Friday, cyclist Simon Geschke became the first German Olympic athlete to test positive for the coronavirus. For him, the Olympic Games as an athlete are over even before the start. Participants from other countries had also previously tested positive and were robbed of their Olympic dream by ordered quarantines. The list of athletes taken out of the race in this or similar ways and, according to their own statements, "devastated" is getting longer.

Media representatives are also affected by quarantine orders. Shirley Robertson, the British double Olympic sailing champion from 2000 and 2004, is now known to fans all over the world as a successful TV commentator, and not just from the America's Cup. She and parts of her team were sent into quarantine in Japan nine days after landing at Tokyo airport due to so-called "close contacts" (close contact with an infected person) on the plane. BBC reporter Robertson, who did not test positive and is symptom-free, must now remain there until 28 July, along with other colleagues. Unlike athletes in action, however, Robertson and her team can at least continue working. The Brit records her reports in her room under the duvet. The 53-year-old thoroughbred athlete and reporter is maintaining her combative attitude and optimism: "Fortunately, we had done a lot of interviews in advance. Our editor is also in isolation. That's not ideal. But we just have to make the best of it. I still think we'll see some good sport."

"This Olympic start represents a whole athlete's life"

6000 athletes and officials attended the opening ceremony. Around 3500 media representatives from all over the world reported on the opening ceremony from Tokyo via television, radio, print and online. In Enoshima, where the first 131 sailors will be competing from Sunday, a total of 350 sailors from 63 nations will be fighting for good results in Sagami Bay. They have all come to achieve their sporting goals under the Olympic rings, even in extremely challenging times, to realise their medal dreams and to crown their sporting careers after years of hard work. Just like Philipp Buhl, who said before his second Olympic start on Saturday in the Olympic harbour: "This Olympic start represents a whole athlete's life." For Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger and Laser World Champion Philipp Buhl, the competition begins on Sunday: the women open their first race at 12 noon local time (5 a.m. German time), the men follow two hours later.

By taking part, the athletes have said yes to the Olympic Games in an unprecedented environment and under extreme restrictions. The dangers lurking at the Games in Japan were known beforehand. But nobody chose them. Many coronavirus threats can be avoided or minimised by following the rules. Others - such as too close contact with an unknown seat neighbour who later tested "positive" on the plane to Tokyo - are beyond anyone's control. A possible exclusion from the competition for athletes or the banishment of observers to quarantine rooms remains a possibility until the end of these nervous Games - for each of the 10,400 athletes, coaches, journalists, media teams and guests who are officially taking part.